Does the Bible teach economic equality? or Government redistribution of wealth to create economic equality?A Major NT Text on this subject is 2 Cor 8-9

Paul says elsewhere "... remember the poor. I [have] made every effort to do [so]. Paul's advice to rich people: As for the rich in this present age, charge them ...to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share [with the poor] And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need (1 Tim 6:18, Titus 3:14)

Then there is always 1 John 3:17-18, if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed. and James 1:27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works is dead. Scripture is clear! Christians are to consider and help the Poor. And the Biblical way to do that is more than writing a check. To give aid to the poor involves becoming personally involved with them. That is true "compassion". This word means "to suffer with". A classic example of that is the "Good Samaritan". Carefully re-read Luke 10: 29-37

Mammon is the name of the god of Wealth or Money or the Free-Market. Economism is the belief that economics is the main factor in society governing or influencing everything else ["Money or Greed is behind everything" is a common mantra of Economism] Many agree and they allow their entire lives to be shaped by this false god, this idol.

Economics: “a social science concerned chiefly with description and analysis of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services” - Merriam-Webster

Economics is about the choices people make with regard to scarce resources –

People chose to sacrifice some things in order to obtain other things because there is a scarcity of those things and nothing scarce is free (every scarce thing has a price).

Economics is about the exchanges people make of things [time, possessions, money, etc] desired less, for things [time, possessions, money, etc] desired more.

These choices and exchanges are affected by values and incentives.

They should also be determined by long-range (rather than immediate) consequences.

The Bible contains moral and ethical principles that are very relevant to economic topics, e.g. - work, private property, profit, money, employee and employer relationship, etc. These Biblical principles provide the values that should guide economic choices and behavior. But most people, many Christians, do not know or care what the Bible says about such matters. rather they follow [have faith in] the opinions or theories offered by secular economists and financial advisers. They trust these experts [like Clergy?] They believe what these Economists say [like the Bible] and then make major, as well as daily, life-decisions based on these beliefs. This is where Economics becomes a Religion, Economism.

The Bible says "THOU SHALT NOT STEAL". Conservative, libertarian and neoliberal arguments against property redistribution consider the term a euphemism for theft or forced labor, and argue that redistribution of legitimately obtained property cannot ever be just.

Public programs and policy measures involving redistribution of property include

·progressive income tax system, a high income earner will pay a higher tax rate than a low income earner.

·eminent domain,

·land reform, Land reform (also agrarian reform) involves the changing of laws, regulations or customs regarding land ownership. Land reform may consist of a government-initiated or government-backed property redistribution, generally of agricultural land.

·"transfer payment" programs funded through general taxation eg- subsidies and vouchers (such as food stamps) transfer is made without any exchange of goods or services. Examples include welfare (financial aid), social security, and governmentsubsidies for certain businesses (firms).

Property redistribution is a term applied to various policies involving taxation or nationalization of property, or of regulations ordering owners to make their property available to others.

1. God owns everything, including the earth and all natural resources. He is the ultimate property owner. All wealth comes from God. All of it. This truth is absolutely fundamental to the Biblical concept of Wealth